Caulking guns with the handle positioned adjacent the dispensing outlet

ABSTRACT

The subject caulking guns improve the balance and control characteristics so that operation with one hand is easily possible. The design is applicable to the conventional push type unit and to other models based on pull or screw or air driven systems. Provision has been made to move the support and control grip to a point forward of the center of the cartridge. This design is compatible with the use of power drives and flow control systems for the customary uses of caulking guns and other hand held and operated extrusion equipment.

United States Patent 1 1 Bratton 1 Nov. 27, 1973 CAULKING GUNS WI H THE HANDLE POSITIONED ADJACENT THE DISPENSING OUTLET [76] I Inventor: Francis H. Bratton, Avon, Conn.

[22] Filed: July 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 161,496

52 US. c1..... 222/391, 206/56 0 [51] Int. Cl B67d 5/42 [58] Field of Search, 222/390 392, 386, 472, 326, 47g; 222/129,474, 145, 138, 142, 327, 7* 507, 95, 325; 205/56 6,5611; 220/93;

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 181,600 12/1957 Nilsson 8/l4.1 3,254,806 6/1966 Madsen 222/390 X 2,801,775 8/1957 Slobin 222/326 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 658,086 2/1963 Canada 222/326 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-James M. Slattery [5 7 ABSTRACT The subject caulking guns improve the balance and control characteristics so that operation with one hand is easily possible. The design is applicable to the conventional push type unit and to other models based on pull or screw or air driven systems. Provision has been made to move the support and control grip to a point forward of the center of the cartridge. This design is compatible with the use of power drives and flow control systems for the customary uses of caulking guns and other hand held and operated extrusion equipment.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Pmmfnuuv'zmu' i 3.774.819 sum 10F 3 INVENTOR v FRANCIS HBRATTON PATENTEDHUYPT I975 3174.819.

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INVENTOR FRANCIS H BRATTON PATENTED NOV 2 7 I973 SHEET 30F 3 INVENTOR I FRANCIS H. BRATTON BY 9mm} b fi l CAULKING GUNS WITH THE HANDLE POSITIONED ADJACENT THE DISPENSING OUTLET SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Several arrangements are presented for conventional caulking guns and for some unusual types to provide substantially improved balance and control to permit their operation with one hand. Provision is made for the handle and operating control to be moved to a location near the discharge end of the container or cartridge, and is applied to several push and pull type hand extrusion units. In addition reference is made to other improvements which make the use of small units and more precise flow control possible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The poor balance and the need for generating pressure to drive present day caulking guns has made them require two-handed operation. This can readily be verified by the use of a caulking gun, the observation of people using caulking guns and by the illustrations which frequently accompany promotion and advertisementsof caulking material for sale. The problems exist in the casual use by home repairmen doing their own work and also with contract construction personnel operating on caulking projects requiring consumption of material in large amounts to be placed over wide areas. The findings of the present invention are applicable to the remotely powered air driven guns as well as to the discreet cartridge type units whether these are operated manually or with power assistance. v

It is proposed throughthe use of the present invention to make it possible for a workman particularly in I difficult positions such as one at'the top of a ladder to be able to use a caulking gun effectively and accurately drive section may naturally be located near the discharge end of the caulk container or cartridge.

with one hand. The design is directed to permit some of such operation to take advantage of power sources commonly available to the home workman as well as to the contract construction man. This would-be to drive the material from the caulking cartridge by direct connection to an electric drill or similar power tool in some models, even though in some arrangements this may require two-handed operation. Compatible with the present concepts are the inclusion of flow control devices, pressure indicators and the like which would make possible the elimination of many of the discontinuities in the application bead from the usual-caulking gun.

The designs of improved balance have been made possible by separation of the rod drive section from the hand jacking operation customarily usedto produce extrusion. The arrangements can apply to step-notched rod drives, smooth rod with sharp plate friction drives, or screw drives of threaded rods by translating the motion from the handle area to the drive with tensile or compressive connecting linkages. Hydraulic, torsion and similar linkages would not be beyond the scope of the invention.

Some less common types of dispensing units which have been frequently considered, but which are of small numerical market significance as caulking dispensers have now been redesigned and improved under .this and my copendingapplications to provide balmechanism.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION number of trips up and down the ladder and the movement of the ladderin construction operation involving caulking and placement of sealants.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved caulking dispensing devices designed to handle presently available caulking packages and bulk material. 1

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for the use of readily available hand power tools as aids in the dispensing and placement of caulking and adhesive materials. v

It is an object of the present invention to provide systems which make possible improved uniformity of the bead which is deposited by caulking guns.

It is an object of the present invention to provide dis-.

pensing means for new package concepts which are described under copending applications.

It is an object of the present invention to provide some effective units for the application of caulking material which require reduced storage space and reduced display space over that associated with the items currently available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows a balanced, notched rod, rear drive caulking gun using a tensile connection to the handle,

FIG. 2 showsa balanced, smooth rod sharp plate drive caulking gun with a compressive connection.

FIG. 3 shows a balanced, screw driven, rear push rod caulking gun with a tensile connection. FIG. 4 shows the detail of its drive arrangements.

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement for a balanced, pull type caulking gun with its windup rod parallel to the cartridge axis and FIG. 6 shows the detail of the drive FIG. 7 shows an arrangement for a balanced, pull type caulking gun with the windup rod perpen-dicular to the cartridge-handle plane and FIG. 8 gives a front view.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an adaptation of a pull type gun for winding a tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING EXAMPLE I Abalanced caulking gun which in many respects is similar to those now in use is shown in FIG. 1. The Frame 1 is built to allow a two inch diameter by 8% inch long cartridge to be inserted in such a way that its rigid front member containing a spout may beplaced mechanism support 7 which is fastened in place. A r

push rod with vertical notch teeth 8 is moved forward by the advanced drive 9 and is locked in position after force has been released by the locking pawl 10. This effort applies force at disc 11 which in turn pushes against the movable piston in the cartridge which is contained and restrained in the frame 1. Movement of I the advance drive 9 is accomplished by means of a wire, filament or ribbon 12 which is connected to a drive lever 13 to apply force on the advance drive when the lever is squeezed by manual pressure. The gun is so arranged that the cartridge located between the disc 11 and the thrust barrier 2, even when full, is essentially in balance over the handle 14 with any extra weight over the hand and wrist. The gun is then easily held by one hand in such a manner that the fingers maybe free to operate the drive lever 13. To remove a cartridge the push rod 8 is rotated to disengage its notched teeth from the drive and lock pawls, and pulled back;

EXAMPLE II This'balanced gun is similar to that in Example I although the filament or tensile element has been replaced by a thrust or push rod 15 which allows force to be applied to the drive rod by pushing insteadof pulling. The squeezing or hand jacking movements of the drive lever 13 causes the advance drive 9 in this unit to force against the double plate 16 so that the plate inturn is locked against the smooth drive rod 17 and forces it forward in an action similar to that in Example I. On release of the force the drive lever returns to its extended position and the spring 18 pushes the plate 16 into position for another advance. When the rod 17 is not being advanced it is held by the detent 19 which is tensioned by the spring 20. To release a cartridge the exposed top end of the detent plate 21 is pushed forward.

EXAMPLE m i This balanced gun is arranged to provide a screw drive for the disc 11 with respect to the thrust barrier 6 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The cartridge is placed above the connecting body 22 and the movable piston is engaged by the disc 11, which is attached to a push rod with partial butress threads 23 which passes through the hole 25. The butress threads engage in matching threads in a ratchet driven nut 24 which is movable up and down on the pivot pin 26. It is shown locked in disengaged position with the point of the lever 28 below pin 27. In thread engaged position the point 28 of lever 29 engages above pin 27. Rotary motion of the nut is realized from the pawl 30 which is moved by the filament 12 passing over pulley 31 when the drive lever 13 is moved. The thrust rod 23 may be free for the insertion or removal of the cartridge, but fits snugly in the hole 25 in the rigid barrier 6 for alignment.

EXAMPLE IV The unit in Example IV, shown in FIG. 5, represents a pull type gun with a windup substantially parallel to the cartridge axis and is designed for use with containers described in my copending application entitled CONTAINERS FOR EXTRUDABLE MATERIALS. In this unit the cartridge '5 which is equipped with a filament 32 attached to its movable piston is placed against the thrust barrier 2 to which is attached support area 33 to which the handle 14 is attached. An optional clamp 34 to hold the cartridge may be attached to the support area. Movement of the movable piston 4 to cause extrusion is accomplished by attaching the cartridge filament 32 to the windup rod 35 after passing it over the pulley 36 to minimize friction. Tensile forces are produced at the windup rod by movement of the drive lever 13 to produce rotary motion in the ratchet wheel 37 by the movement of the drive pawl 38 as is seen in FIG. 6. Backlash is minimized by the-lock pawl 39 and an optional power drive is provided by the power shank 40 to which a suitable power operated device may be attached. A'hand drill unit which may be operated by electric power is shown as (40A).

EXAMPLE V The pull type gun with windup perpendicular to the axis of the cartridge shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has also been designed for operation with the pull type cartridges referenced above. In this gun provision is made for the cartridge to be inserted against the barrier 2,

EXAMPLE VI An adaptation of a pull type gun to wind up a tube is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and illustrates a modification which may be made to the subject caulking dis pensing guns so that a tube, particularly one made of tough plastic material, may be placed in the assembly 7 and subjected to the pressure required for extrusion.

This is particularly important in accurate control of.

fine beads and might well be adapted for use with the flow control methods described in my copending application entitled CONTROL VALVES FOR VISCOUS MATERIAL SYSTEMS. In this type gun the rigid thrust support 2 is connected with the support area 33 in the usual fashion-To operate the unit two filaments shown as 43 and 43A are attached to the thrust barrier at points 44 and 44A shown in FIG. 10. The filaments which may be partially wound up on placement pass around the tube, continue through the holes 45 atop the tube and over the formed humps 46 and 46A finally attaching to the windup rod 47. When the tube 48 is initially placed in the assembly the filaments may be brought up snug with the drive handle and ratchet member. This arrangement can be effectively used with a material such as leather, thermoplastic sheet or cloth which serves as a barrier between the confining wires and the tube to be rolled up. They may be incorporated as part of the gun if so desired.

The materials of construction used in the manufacture of the subject caulking guns is of course limited only by strength and economic considerations. The devices themselves may be fabricated with welded, soldered, crimped, bolted, riveted, cemented, etc., joints and fastenings. It is also contemplated that arrangements or attachments such as hanging clamps or loops, cutting, scraping, puncturing, and other similar items may be included with or on the guns without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 claim: I

1. In combination with a cartridge containing caulking material, said cartridge having an elongated tubular body, a flanged end member closing one end of the tubular body with the flange engaging the inner surface of the tubular body andadapted to be slid therein substantially the entire length thereof as a piston for ejecting the caulking material from the tubular body, an end member of rigid material fixed .at the other end of the tubular body for closing same, said end member having a tubular discharge spout located therein; a dispensing apparatus having connecting supports longer than the tubular body of the cartridge and of suitable separation to receive said tubular body, thrust barriers rigidly fixed at the respective ends of said connecting supports, said tubular spout extending through an opening in one thrust barrier, a rod extending through the other thrust barrier, a disc fixed on the end of said rod for engaging said flanged end member as a piston in the open end of said cartridge, said dispensing apparatus having a handle supportably attached to said connecting supports at a location substantially forward of the midpoint between the thrust barriers of said dispensing apparatus, said handle having a drive lever squeezably attached thereto and operatively engaged with an advance drive mechanism to move said thrust rod forward whereby movement of said rod forces extrudable material from said discharge spout.

2. In combination with a cartridge containing caulking material, said cartridge having an elongated tubular body, a flanged end member of substantially rigid material fixed at the front end of the tubular body for closing same, said member having a discharge spout to allow extrusion of the contents, an internal flanged end member closing the other end of the tubular body with the flange engaging the inner surface of the tubular body and adapted to slide therein substantially the entire length thereof as apiston for ejecting the caulking material from the tubular body, a tensile element attached centrally to said internal flanged end member, said tensile element passing through said front flange and passing over a grooved hump so that tensile force applied to said tensile element at an angle of substantially 90 to the axis of said cartridge develops force to move said piston to produce extrusion, a dispensing apparatus having a semi-cylindrical member forming a trough substantially about half as long as the tubular body of the cartridge and of suitable diameter to receive said tubular body therein, a clamp to retain said cartridge therein, said semLcylindrica] member having a rigid thrust barrier to engage and restrain said cartridge but allowing said discharge spout, tensile element and grooved bump to pass through said rigid barrier, a support handle means firmly attached to and beneath said semi-cylindrical body, a drive lever manually squeezably attached to said handle, ratchet means to cause said drive lever to cause rotation of a windup shaft substantially parallel to the axis of said container, said shaft provided with attachment means to allow said tensile element of said cartridge to be wound up to cause said internal flanged end member to produce extrusion pressure in said container.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said handle means is located close to the discharge end of the container.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein the windup shaft is provided with an external shank for the attachment of a rotary hand power tool.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the windup shaft is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container.

6. In combination with a cartridge containing caulking mat'erial, said cartridge having an elongated tubular body, a flanged end member of substantially rigid material fixed at the front end of the tubular body for closing same, said end member having a discharge spout to allow extrusion of the contents, an internal flanged end member closing the other end of the tubular body with the flange engaging the inner surface of the tubular body and adapted to slide therein substantially the entire length thereof as a piston for ejecting the caulking material from the tubular body, a tensile element attached centrally to said flanged end member, said tensile'element passing through said front flange so that tensile force applied to said tensile element develops force to move said piston to produce extrusion, a dispensing apparatus having a semi-cylindrical member forming a trough substantially half as long as the tubular body of the cartridge and of suitable diameter to receive said tubular body therein, a clamp means to retain said cartridge therein, a rigid thrust barrier to engage and restrain said cartridge but allowing said discharge spout and tensile element to pass through said rigid barrier, said rigid barrier having a pulley means fixedly located below said discharge spout to guide said tensile element to a direction substantially from the axis of said cylinder, a support handle m'eans firmly attached to and beneath said semi-cylindrical body, a drive lever manually squeezably attached to said handle means, ratchet means to cause said drive-lever to cause rotation of a windup shaft substantially parallel to the axis of said container, sa-id shaft provided with attachment means to allow said tensile element to be wound up to produce extrusion pressure in said container.

7. The combination in claim 6 wherein a grooved guide is used in. place of the pulley in the rigid barrier.

8. The combination in claim 6 wherein the pulley is used to guide said tensile element to a direction of substantially more than 90 from the axis of the container to a windup shaft substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container.

9. In combination with a flexible tubular body containing extrudable material, said tubular body having one end member closed by a flat diametric closure substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tubular body,

a formed substantially rigid end member containing a discharge spout to allow extrusion of said extrudable material; a dispensing apparatus having a semicylindrical member forming a trough substantially almost as long as the tubular body and of suitable diameter to receive said tubular body therein, a rigid thrust barrier rigidly attached to said trough to engage and restrain said substantially rigid end member of said tubular body, but allowing said discharge spout to operate through said barrier, two filaments attached to the lower portion of said thrust barrier, extending rearwardly therefrom and deployable to extend over said tube and past said flat closure thereof, said filaments each passing through an opening in the upper portion of said thrust barrier, each filament passing over a grooved guide to a windup shaft; a support handle means firmly attached to and beneath said semicylindrical body, a manually squeezable drive lever attached to said handle, ratchet gear means to cause said drive lever to produce rotation of said windup shaft,

i said shaft located substantially parallel to the axis of the tube. 

1. In combination with a cartridge containing caulking material, said cartridge having an elongated tubular body, a flanged end member closing one end of the tubular body with the flange engaging the inner surface of the tubular body and adapted to be slid therein substantially the entire length thereof as a piston for ejecting the caulking material from the tubular body, an end member of rigid material fixed at the other end of the tubular body for closing same, said end member having a tubular discharge spout located therein; a dispensing apparatus having connecting supports longer than the tubular body of the cartridge and of suitable separation to receive said tubular body, thrust barriers rigidly fixed at the respective ends of said connecting supports, said tubular spout extending through an opening in one thrust barrier, a rod extending through the other thrust barrier, a disc fixed on the end of said rod for engaging said flanged end member as a piston in the open end of said cartridge, said dispensing apparatus having a handle supportably attached to said connecting supports at a location substantially forward of the mid-point between the thrust barriers of said dispensing apparatus, said handle having a drive lever squeezably attached thereto and operatively engaged with an advance drive mechanism to move said thrust rod forward whereby movement of said rod forces extrudable material from said discharge spout.
 2. In combination with a cartridge containing caulking material, said cartridge having an elongated tubular body, a flanged end member of substantially rigid material fixed at the front end of the tubular body for closing same, said member having a discharge spout to allow extrusion of the contents, an internal flanged end member closing the other end of the tubular body with the flange engaging the inner surface of the tubular body and adapted to slide therein substantially the entire length thereof as a piston for ejecting the caulking material from the tubular body, a tensile element attached centrally to said internal flanged end member, said tensile element passing through said front flange and passing over a grooved hump so that tensile force applied to said tensile element at an angle of substantially 90* to the axis of said cartridge develops force to move said piston to produce extrusion, a dispensing apparatus having a semi-cylindrical member forming a trough substantially about half as long as the tubular body of the cartridge and of suitable diameter to receive said tubular body therein, a clamp to retain said cartridge therein, said semi-cylindrical member having a rigid thrust barrier to engage and restrain said cartridge but allowing said discharge spout, tensile element and grooved hump to pass through said rigid barrier, a support handle means firmly attached to and beneath said semi-cylindrical body, a drive lever manually squeezably attached to said handle, ratchet means to cause said drive lever to cause rotation of a windup shaft substantially parallel to the axis of said container, said shaft provided with attachment means to allow said tensile element of said cartridge to be wound up to cause said internal flanged end member to produce extrusion pressure in said container.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said handle means is located close to the discharge end of the container.
 4. The combination of claim 2 wherein the windup shaft is provided with an external shank for the attachment of a rotary hand power tool.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the windup shaft is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container.
 6. In combination with a cartridge containing caulking material, said cartridge having an elongated tubular body, a flanged end member of substantially rigid material fixed at the front end of the tubular body for closing same, said end member having a discharge spout to allow extrusion of the contents, an internal flanged end member closing the other end of the tubular body with the flange engaging the inner surface of the tubular body and adapted to slide therein substantially the entire length thereof as a piston for ejecting the caulking material from the tubular body, a tensile element attached centrally to said flanged end member, said tensile element passing through said front flange so that tensile force applied to said tensile element develops force to move said piston to produce extrusion, a dispensing apparatus having a semi-cylindrical member forming a trough substantially half as long as the tubular body of the cartridge and of suitable diameter to receive said tubular body therein, a clamp means to retain said cartridge therein, a rigid thrust barrier to engage and restrain said cartridge but allowing said discharge spout and tensile element to pass through said rigid barrier, said rigid barrier having a pulley means fixedly located below said discharge spout to guide said tensile element to a direction substantially 90* from the axis of said cylinder, a support handle means firmly attached to and beneath said semi-cylindrical body, a drive lever manually squeezably attached to said handle means, ratchet means to cause said drive lever to cause rotation of a windup shaft substantially parallel to the axis of said container, said shaft provided with attachment means to allow said tensile element to be wound up to produce extrusion pressure in said container.
 7. The combination in claim 6 wherein a grooved guide is used in place of the pulley in the rigid barrier.
 8. The combination in claim 6 wherein the pulley is used to guide said tensile element to a direction of substantially more than 90* from the axis of the container to a windup shaft substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container.
 9. In combination with a flexible tubular body containing extrudable material, said tubular body hAving one end member closed by a flat diametric closure substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tubular body, a formed substantially rigid end member containing a discharge spout to allow extrusion of said extrudable material; a dispensing apparatus having a semi-cylindrical member forming a trough substantially almost as long as the tubular body and of suitable diameter to receive said tubular body therein, a rigid thrust barrier rigidly attached to said trough to engage and restrain said substantially rigid end member of said tubular body, but allowing said discharge spout to operate through said barrier, two filaments attached to the lower portion of said thrust barrier, extending rearwardly therefrom and deployable to extend over said tube and past said flat closure thereof, said filaments each passing through an opening in the upper portion of said thrust barrier, each filament passing over a grooved guide to a windup shaft; a support handle means firmly attached to and beneath said semi-cylindrical body, a manually squeezable drive lever attached to said handle, ratchet gear means to cause said drive lever to produce rotation of said windup shaft, said shaft located substantially parallel to the axis of the tube and provided with means for the attachment of said filaments to allow said filaments to be wound up to produce tensile force on said filaments over said tube body to produce extrusion pressure in said tube.
 10. The combination in claim 9 wherein said handle means is located near the extrusion end of said tube.
 11. The combination of claim 9 wherein the windup shaft is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube. 